The Sound of Suds Francisco
Katdelic & Afterthought to Headline The City’s Funk & Fermentation Festival
Two weeks ago, we introduced the first five producers joining us for Suds Francisco, a celebration of funk, fermentation, and San Francisco flavor presented by the Bay Area Brewers Guild and Barebottle Brewing, coming to TJPA's Salesforce Park on Sunday, August 23.
One question immediately rose to the top:
"Who's playing?”
Today, we're excited to answer.
Just as we've carefully curated every brewery, winery, cider maker, and fermented food producer, we wanted a musical lineup that reflects the soul of San Francisco itself and celebrates funk's foundation and its future.
Katdelic
When your festival is built around funk, you don't settle for imitation.
You call RonKat Spearman.
A genuine P-Funk All-Star, Spearman helped carry the tradition around the world as a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and bandleader, performing alongside George Clinton for a full decade as a core member of Parliament-Funkadelic. Today, he fronts Katdelic, a powerhouse ensemble channeling the unmistakable P-Funk energy into an explosive live show.
We're honored to welcome Katdelic as Suds Francisco's headlining act. Their performance promises to transform Salesforce Park into the sort of joyous, dance-filled celebration that "uncut funk" continues to conjure.
Afterthought & The Top Chefs
Before Katdelic takes the stage, one of San Francisco's own will set the tone.
Afterthought, performing with The Top Chefs, represents the next generation of Bay Area hip-hop and soul. As a member of the acclaimed Family Not A Group collective, Afterthought has built a reputation for thoughtful lyricism, community engagement, and performances, like this one, that blur the boundaries between jazz, funk, hip-hop, and spoken word.
Bringing together a certified P-Funk legend and one of San Francisco's most exciting up-and-coming artists was no accident. Suds Francisco is about celebrating the past, present, and future of city's creative culture as much as its fermentation culture.
Of course, music is only part of the experience.
This week we're also introducing four more producers who embody the same spirit of celebration, craftsmanship, and creativity.
Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
When Adair Paterno co-founded Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, her ambition wasn't to build one of America's most celebrated breweries.
"The whole plan with Sante was to make the beer we wanted to drink," she told the Brew Deck, "beer that we could not find with regularity in Santa Cruz County."
Fourteen years later, that unwavering commitment to mixed-culture beer has earned Sante an international reputation. Their saisons, wild ales, and other barrel-aged creations have become destination beers for drinkers around the world. As we've previously covered, the readers of Craft Beer & Brewing recently named SARA the #2 Saison brewery on the planet, and they have repeatedly been honored as a Zwanze Day host.
Even with all that attention and acclaim, the philosophy remains remarkably unchanged. "The mixed fermentation brands are still the closest to my heart," Adair says.
Few breweries better embody Suds Francisco's celebration of patience, craftsmanship, and fermentation as an art form.
Varietal Beer Co.
Great beer begins with great agriculture.
That's the philosophy behind Sunnyside, Washington's Varietal Beer Co., where roughly 90% of the beer is brewed with malt produced by Pacific Northwest craft maltsters using locally grown grain, and most of the hops are sourced from nearby Yakima Valley farms. Their IPAs often highlight the unique character of individual hop farms, while their highly sought-after wild ales frequently feature the area's seasonal fruit, offering drinkers a genuine taste of one of the world's great brewing (and growing) regions.
A high-priority inclusion for our hosts at Barebottle Brewing, Varietal brings a fresh perspective on terroir and sustainability, that is rooted in local agriculture and exceptional craftsmanship.
Overshine Wine Co.
Think Suds Francisco is only for beer lovers? Think again.
Founded in Healdsburg, Overshine Wine Co. has quickly built a following for vibrant, expressive wines that celebrate Sonoma County without feeling bound by convention. Thoughtfully crafted and deeply influenced by music, culture, and community, Overshine represents a fresh generation of California winemakers creating bottles meant to be shared around a table—not locked away in a cellar.
If you attended our Beer vs. Wine dinner during SF Beer Week, you already know why we're excited to welcome them back.
Reculture Foods
Sometimes the best way to move food culture forward is by looking back.
Founded by Indonesian-American friends Feby Boediarto and Melati Citrawireja, Oakland's Reculture Foods was born from a simple frustration: authentic Indonesian-style tempeh was nearly impossible to find in the United States. Rather than compromise, they began making their own—crafting fresh, unpasteurized tempeh rooted in centuries of Indonesian tradition while celebrating California's extraordinary ingredients.
At Reculture, fermentation is more than a preservation technique. It's a way of honoring ancestry, building community, and sharing stories across generations. Their beautifully crafted tempeh reminds us that some of the world's oldest fermented foods still have new stories to tell.
We're thrilled to welcome Reculture to Suds Francisco and introduce more Bay Area eaters to one of fermentation's oldest—and most delicious—traditions.
🎟️ Tickets Are On Sale
Tickets for Suds Francisco are now available.
If you've been following these exhibitor announcements, we hope you're beginning to see what we're trying to build: not simply another beer festival, but a celebration of the people who use fermentation—and funk—to shape the culture of the Bay Area.
We'll continue introducing more breweries, wineries, cider makers, fermented food producers, and DJs in the weeks ahead.
We can't wait to share them with you on August 23.
🍻 Upcoming Events Featuring Our Member Breweries
🎉 Public Events This Week!
Saturday, 7/18—Pop Nosh At Temescal Brewing
(Oakland, CA| 12PM-4PM)
For the third year running, East Bay Nosh will curate a collection of the East Bay's on-the-rise food vendors and brought them together for a festival at Temescal Brewing!
Full Line-Up, More Info & RSVP –> Pop Nosh Festival in Temescal!
Saturday & Sunday, 7/18 & 7/19—10 Year Anniversary Weekend At Barebottle Brewing
(San Francisco, CA)
It is a two-day-long party at Barebottle Bernal Heights. Multiple food vendors, four new collaboration releases, DJs, oysters, a pig roast, and more!
More Info –> Celebrate in Bernal Heights!
Saturday & Sunday, 7/18 & 7/19—Fruition Brewing 7th Anniversary Celebration!
(Watsonville, CA)
Another two-day celebration! Starting at noon on both Saturday and Sunday. Expect a special anniversary IPA release, BBQ, live blues, and DJs!!
More Info –> Fruition Anniversary in Watsonville!
Saturday & Sunday, 7/18 & 7/19—Independencia De Colombia Weekend at Del Cielo!
(Martinez, CA)
And another weekend-long celebration! Two days of live music, delicious food, and of course, beer, all infused with distinct Colombian flavor!
More Info –> Colombian Independence Celebration in Martinez!
📅 Save the Dates
Friday, 7/24—Hoodslam at Drakes Dealership!
(Oakland, CA)
It's monstrous when Slamtown and Monstertown combine for Midsommar Squash! Voted Queer Wrestling Illustrated's "Promotion of The Year!"
Tickets & More Info –> Pro Wrestling In Oakland!
Saturday & Sunday 7/25 & 7/26—Hop Oast 8th Anniversary Celebration!
(San Francisco, CA)
Hop Oast is celebrating their 8th anniversary by releasing a special Belgian Golden Strong Ale. There will also be live music, pretzels, and a beer slushy machine!.
More Info –> Hopoast.com!
Friday & Saturday 7/31 & 8/1—Del Cielo Taproom Anniversary Celebration!
(Livermore, CA)
Julio Bravo kicks off the celebration on Friday, followed by The Dream Tellers on Saturday. Two nights of live music, great beer, and celebrating an amazing first year in Livermore.
Tickets & More Info –> Two Nights Of Live Music in Livermore!
Saturday 8/1—Enterprise Brewing 3rd Anniversary!
(San Francisco, CA)
One more time around the sun for and SF favorite! Celebrate with Rosamunde Sausage Grill pop-up starting at 1pm.
More Info –> 3rd Anniversary Party in San Francisco!
Saturday, 8/15—Pitch-A-Friend at Headlands Brewing!
(Walnut Creek, CA | 8PM)
Think "Shark Tank" only your friends are pitching you!
Sign Ups & More Info –> Pitch-A-Friend In Walnut Creek!
Sunday, 8/23—SUDS FRANCISCO - A Funk & Fermentation Festival hosted by Barebottle Brewing at Salesforce Park!
(San Francisco, CA | 2PM-7PM)
A summertime celebration of funk and fermentation held beneath the SoMa skyline!
Tickets and More Info –> Suds Francisco 2026!
Saturday, 9/19—It's The Malt - Craft Malt Festival at Admiral Maltings!
(Alameda, CA | 1PM-5PM)
Admiral Maltings' third annual celebration of artisan beer, American Single Malt whiskey, floor-malting, and California grown grains.
Tickets and More Info –> It's The Malt 2026!